Positive Steps In Cancer Management

The promise of managed care has always had a lot to do with what its advocates hoped would be the ability to provide care for populations, not just individuals. This was a radical concept to many people, and still one that is not too easy to explain to people outside the industry.

Early commercial HMOs especially were not too adept at delivering, and no wonder. Just getting their systems to hang together in the face of skeptical providers and the public was a big order. But as time goes on, and information technology advances, plans' ability to deliver on this promise gets better and better.

One example is the cover story, which emphasizes a new commitment to prevention on the part of many insurers. Prevention is an activity that produces long-term economic gains, which can be a problem for businesses struggling with this year's bottom line. Yet in cancer care, prevention as a strategy is taking hold, and as with other prevention activities, all will eventually benefit. Plus, in the short term, to be able to show that you have leading-edge cancer prevention and management programs has to be attractive to employers (who also have to think long-term) and to members.

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Managed Care's Prospects in the Health Reform Era

Princeton’s Uwe Reinhardt, PhD, renowned health care economist, sits down with Managing Editor Frank Diamond to discuss the economic effects of the Affordable Care Act, wellness programs, and the state of health care in the United States in general.